by Eva Björg Aegisdóttir - Translated by Victoria Cribb
SYNOPSIS When the body of a woman is discovered at a lighthouse in the Icelandic town of Akranes, it soon becomes clear that she’s no stranger to the area. Chief Investigating Officer Elma, who has returned to Akranes following a failed relationship, and her colleagues Sævar and Hörður, commence an uneasy investigation, which uncovers a shocking secret in the dead woman’s past that continues to reverberate in the present day. But as Elma and her team make a series of discoveries, they bring to light a host of long-hidden crimes that shake the entire community. Sifting through the rubble of the townspeople’s shattered memories, they have to dodge increasingly serious threats, and find justice - before it’s too late.
REVIEW When Elma returns to her home town of Akranes after living in Reykjavik, she is hoping for a slower pace of life. The most she is expecting from her job at the Akranes Police Department is the odd domestic disturbance or missing cat. However, she is quickly proven wrong when the body of a woman is found at a lighthouse. Together with her colleagues Sævar and Hörður, Elma must investigate the mysterious death. Who is this woman and what is her connection with the town? And is her death a suicide or murder?
The police investigation which follows takes a dark turn as Elma uncovers the story of Elísabet who lived in Akranes as a young child in the late 1980’s. And now, difficult questions must be asked and secrets exposed which threaten to tear the town apart. With these elements, the author tackles the subjects of grief, loss, and child abuse in a way which is compelling rather than graphic and manages to paint a pretty harrowing picture without having to explain every detail.
When I initially picked up this book I was only intending to read the first few pages to get a feel for the story and see what I thought of it – the next thing I knew I was a third of the way through and completely hooked. This was a bit of a surprise as I had read a few reviews saying that it was a slow burner, and while I do agree that it is not an action-packed thriller with a shocking revelation on every page, there was something about the style of writing and the bare Icelandic, small-town setting that completely absorbed me into the investigation. With Elma having only recently started her job at the Akranes Police Department, as a reader you feel like you are getting to know the town and her colleagues at the same time as she does, and as the story develops you become more and more invested in the case.
The Creak on the Stairs is the first book from the ‘Forbidden Iceland’ series and I honestly can’t wait to read the next instalment. The characters, Elma in particular, are really interesting so I am looking forward to seeing more from her, and the multi-layered police investigation was dark and full of intrigue. It had all of the elements that I love from a fantastic Nordic Noir.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Akranes, Iceland in 1988, Eva moved to Trondheim, Norway to study my MSc in Globalisation when she was 25. After moving back home having completed her MSc, she knew it was time to start working on her novel.
Eva has wanted to write books since she was 15 years old, having won a short story contest in Iceland. Eva worked as a stewardess to make ends meet while she wrote her first novel. The book went on to win the Blackbird Award and became an Icelandic bestseller.
Eva now lives with her husband and three children in Reykjavík, staying at home with her youngest until she begins Kindergarten.
Thanks to Anne Cater - @annecater #RandomThingsTours and Orenda Books -@OrendaBooks for the opportunity to read and review.
Fiction: Icelandic Noir / Thriller / Suspense
Publisher: Orenda Books
ISBN: 978-1913193041
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